US3601258A

US3601258A - Book end for shelves

Info

Publication number: US3601258A
Application number: US844093A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert R Stein
Original assignee: Instrument Systems Corp
Current assignee: Grant Industries Inc; Griffon Corp
Priority date: 1969-07-23
Filing date: 1969-07-23
Publication date: 1971-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-24

Abstract

A book end for use with open end shelves and formed from a single strip of material in a generally triangular shape with a U-shaped base. The upper leg of the U is the base of the triangle. A support arm has one end pivotally attached to the apex of the triangle and the other end engaging the upper surface of the shelf remote from the base of the triangle. The support arm is pivotable to both sides of the plane containing the triangle.

Description

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Book END FOR sHELvEs This invention relates to a book end for shelves, and particularly to a book end for use with open end shelves,

Prior book ends were essentially positioned on the upper surface of a book shelf abutting a cover of a book. Normally the book end was relatively heavy and had a large base, so as to be stable and avoid moving or tipping under the pressure of a row of books, or when a book leaned on the book end thereby creating a moment of force towards the book end. Oftentimes shelves have no ends and are supported on a wall by standards and brackets. The open shelves create a problem for supporting books along the shelf, since there are no end walls to hold and support the row of books such as in conventional bookcases. Various devices have been contrived, which, to varying degrees of success, permitted supporting the books on such an open shelf. However, these devices have usually not maintained the books vertically under the pressure of a row of books, large books, or if the books leaned towards the book end. Book ends having a U-shaped base used clamping pressure on the shelf` to maintain the book end in a vertical position. While this type of book end was satisfactory when used with a row containing a few books, it was generally unstable and unsatisfactory for a long row of books or heavy books. Furthermore, many of these book ends depended on weight and took up a relatively large area of the shelf in order to support the row of books, and hence was of limited use, when used with a row of books occupying most of a shelf, with only a small amount ofshelf space at the ends,

Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an improved book end, which can positively support a large row of books on an open end shelfwithout tipping.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a positivemcting book end, which takes up a minimal amount of space on a shelf.

A further objective is to provide a generally planar book cnd, which is constructed, so that it will not damage surfaces on which it is placed and is capable of adjusting to various thicknesses of shelves.

Another objective is to provide a book end, which is of light weight and thin, although of sturdy construction.

Another objective is to provide a book end, which is inexpensive to construct, is economically manufactured from uniform size metal wire, plastic rod, or the like, and is durable, and esthetically pleasing to the eye.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide one book end, which is interchangeable on either side of a row of books. i

Various other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the drawings, which illustrate one em bodiment of this invention:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the device showing a pair of book ends made in accordance with the present invention supporting a row of books on a shelf;

FlG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3 3 of FlG. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a book end embodying the principles ofthe present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10. While a pair of book ends are shown mounted on a shelf l2 supporting books 14, only one need be used, such as when a shelf 12 is mounted on a wall and abutting another wall at right angles, and hence only one will be described.

Book end l0 has a body portion 16 and a U-shaped base 20. While body portion 16 is shown generally triangular in shape, it could assume other geometric configurations. Body portion 16 has a leg 18 engaging the upper surface of shelf l2, which leg is common to base 20. Base 20 has a lower leg 22 and a leg 23 interconnecting

legs

18 and 22. Base 20 extends transversely to the axis of shelf 12 with lower leg 22 engaging the un- -lows bar 24 to abut the undersurface of shelf l2. Pivotally mounted at the apex 28 of triangular portion 16 is a support arm or brac'e 30. Advantageously, apex 28 is bent downwardly or depressed, to form a centering groove for a looped end 32 of support arm 30. Looped end 32 is freely pivotable about depressed apex portion 28, so as to be freely positioned on opposite sides of a plane containing body portion 16. Support arm 30 is of a length greater than the height of triangle 16, so that the free end of arm 30 engages the upper surface of shelf 12 remote from leg 18 of base 20. Advantageously, the free end of arm 30 is covered or provided with a plastic tip 33, so as not to mar or scratch the surface of shelf 12. Preferably cover 33 should frictionally engage shelf l2 to reduce slipping.

As seen best in FIG. 3, body portion 16 and base 20 are generally planar and formed of a single strip of material, bent to proper shape with one end welded or attached to base 20, such as at 34, to strengthen the unit. This strip is preferably of a uniform-size steel rod or wire, which is suitable for electroplating. Similarly,

arms

24 and 30 are formed of the same size of rod.

In operation, book end 10 is mounted on shelf 12 by slipping base 20 transversely on shelf 12, abutting one end of a book 14. Leg 22 is urged against the undersurface of shelf 12. Arm 30 is pivoted away from book 14 so that its free end rests on the upper surface of shelf 12, positively supporting book end 10, regardless of the counterclockwise moment exerted by books 14. Crossarm 24 prevents the book end from falling over, but is not sufficient alone to prevent tipping in response to any large force or moment against book end l0.

While the crossarm 24 was shown mounted on leg 22 intermediate of its ends, so as to require bending of leg 22, it can be mounted at the tip of leg 22, so as to allow leg 22 to be straight, The bend in apex 28 maintains support arm centered.

The device ofthe present invention provides a thin, and versatile book end, which is sturdy to support even the heaviest of books or a large row of books on a shelf, and which takes up only a minimum of space on a shelf and is inexpensive to construct, therefore making possible a low purchase price. The rods are preferably made of metal, but may be made of plastic and allows base 20 to be used with shelves of various thicknesses. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, departures may be made by those skilled in the art.

Whatl claim is:

l. A book end for a shelf comprising a body portion to support a book on said shelf, a generally U-shaped base having an upper leg and a lower leg adapted to receive said shelf therebetween, said body portion being generally triangular in shape with the base of the triangle being the upper leg of said U-shaped base and being adapted to engage the upper surface of said shelf and the apex of the triangle being remote from the upper surface of said shelf, and a support arm pivotally mounted at one end to the apex ofthe triangle for freely pivoting to opposite sides ofthe body portion, said other end of said support arm adapted to engage the upper surface of said shelf spaced from said base upper leg, said support arm being pivotable transversely to the plane containing said body portion.

2. A book end as of claim 1, wherein said body portion and said base is formed from a single strip of material and is generally coplanar.

3. A book end of claim 2, wherein said strip of material is a uniform piece of metal rod.

4. A book end as in claim l, wherein the apex of the triangle has a depression for centering said support arm.

5. A book end as in claim l, further including a nonmarring cover on the end of the support arm.

6. A book end for a shelf, comprising a body portion to support a book on said shelf, a generally U-shaped base having an upper leg and a lower leg adapted to receive said shelf therebetween, the upper leg of the base being common to the body portion and adapted to engage the upper surface of said shelf. a crossarm mounted adjacent the free end of the lower leg of said U-shaped base and transverse thereto, said lower leg adjacent said crossarm being downwardly bent a distant equal to the thickness of the crossarm, whereby said crossarm abuts the undersurface of said shelf, and a support arm pivotally mounted at one end to Said body portion with the other end adapted to engage the upper surface of said shelf spaced from said base upper leg, said support arm being pivotable transversely to the plane containing said body portion.

7. A book end as in claim 6, wherein said body portion and said base are formed from a singular strip of material and are generally coplanar.

8. A book end as in claim 6, wherein said strip of material is a uniform piece of metal rod.

9. A book end as in claim 1, wherein said support arm has an eye at the pivoting end.

10. A book end as in claim 6, wherein said body and said base are coplanar.

Claims

1. A book end for A shelf comprising a body portion to support a book on said shelf, a generally U-shaped base having an upper leg and a lower leg adapted to receive said shelf therebetween, said body portion being generally triangular in shape with the base of the triangle being the upper leg of said U-shaped base and being adapted to engage the upper surface of said shelf and the apex of the triangle being remote from the upper surface of said shelf, and a support arm pivotally mounted at one end to the apex of the triangle for freely pivoting to opposite sides of the body portion, said other end of said support arm adapted to engage the upper surface of said shelf spaced from said base upper leg, said support arm being pivotable transversely to the plane containing said body portion.

4. A book end as in claim 1, wherein the apex of the triangle has a depression for centering said support arm.

5. A book end as in claim 1, further including a nonmarring cover on the end of the support arm.

6. A book end for a shelf, comprising a body portion to support a book on said shelf, a generally U-shaped base having an upper leg and a lower leg adapted to receive said shelf therebetween, the upper leg of the base being common to the body portion and adapted to engage the upper surface of said shelf, a crossarm mounted adjacent the free end of the lower leg of said U-shaped base and transverse thereto, said lower leg adjacent said crossarm being downwardly bent a distant equal to the thickness of the crossarm, whereby said crossarm abuts the undersurface of said shelf, and a support arm pivotally mounted at one end to said body portion with the other end adapted to engage the upper surface of said shelf spaced from said base upper leg, said support arm being pivotable transversely to the plane containing said body portion.

10. A book end as in claim 6, wherein said body and said base are coplanar.